Even after today’s trailer drop, we still don’t know much about The Last Jedi. We know even less about Episode IX. But one rumour about that yet-to-be-titled film has been shot down: the late Carrie Fisher will not appear in it.
Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: A New Hope. Image: YouTube
This news comes straight from Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy, and contradicts recent comments made by Fisher’s brother, Todd Fisher, that the actress would appear in Episode IX using previously-shot footage. (She had already completed her scenes in The Last Jedi before her death.) Here’s the clip from Good Morning America where Kennedy sets it straight:
EXCLUSIVE: Lucasfilm President Kathy Kennedy says Carrie Fisher will NOT be in @StarWars Episode 9 as General Leia. #SWCO #TheLastJedi pic.twitter.com/gxH80QteYb
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 14, 2017
Though that’s disappointing to hear, it makes total sense to end Leia’s story with a film in which Fisher was still able to fully embody the character. Kennedy told Yahoo News today that the script for director and co-writer Colin Trevorrow’s Episode IX — revised to take into account that General Organa would not appear in it — is “very close” to completion. And there’s no doubt Fisher’s presence will still be felt in the next film, even if she doesn’t physically appear in it — she’s just too important to the Star Wars galaxy.